By Ayesha Tariq
Today’s world is suffering from the consequences of climate change, and if not taken seriously, it will lead to serious environmental problems. It is a serious issue not only in a specific region, but it has exceeded its limit throughout the whole world. It is directly influencing the problems of global warming, wildfires, floods, storms, severe droughts, and hurricanes, which are, with the passage of time, increasing in frequency and intensity.
It is influencing the people of developing countries because of greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries. Developed countries are responsible for these extreme changes and impacting the low-income communities. Recently, we have been using the term climate justice to explain this unequal behavior within developing countries. The main focus of this approach is to identify the root cause of these climate crises and mitigate the effect of these changes on developing countries.
Climate Change and its Impact on Human Rights
Climate change is directly violating various human rights, and according to the World Health Organization, there is a future prediction that there will be an estimated 250,000 deaths each year between 2030 and 2050 from malnourishment, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress alone. The climate crisis has deprived people of their right to life, water, sanitation, housing, and health. The people who get displaced from their houses due to heavy floods lose their right to self-determination, and their cultural identity too. It can also influence the economic activity going on in an area due to extreme weather conditions. Climate change is due to man-made activities, and the main problem is that we are not even realizing the root causes of these crises.
One of the significant dimensions of violating human rights is the global health risk caused by climate change; for example, high temperatures are causing heat strokes and skin cancer in humans. Extreme weather conditions like floods spread various diseases like water-borne and vector-borne diseases among the affected.
Impact on Women
Women suffer differently in these types of situations. In case of floods, most people get displaced from their homes, and pregnant women do not have the facility to reach the hospital; so, in most cases, it will lead to the death of both the mother and the child. On the other hand, women during their menstrual cycle have difficulty finding proper sanitary utilities, which will result in different infections. Feminist discourse has given a new spirit toward the consequential side of this crisis on women. Fatima Bhutto, while talking about the specific case of Pakistan, mentioned the displacement of women during the floods and highlighted the death rate of women during this catastrophic situation. As she wrote for The Guardian, “Women and children are 14 times more likely to die during a disaster, according to at least one study. One reason is that they are often the group with the most limited resources at hand during an emergency.”
Challenges in Pakistan
Pakistan is also facing many challenges because of climate change. According to research, extreme heat and destructive flooding cause deaths, displacement from homes, and loss of access to basic needs for approximately 33 million people. Every year, heavy monsoon rainfalls cause floods in remote areas of Pakistan. Millions of people get displaced from their homes, losing fundamental rights to life. Similarly, smog is a common problem in populous and industrious cities like Lahore. It is affecting the health of people, causing different allergies and cardiac pathologies. In recent years, Lahore in particular has ranked higher in poor air quality due to the high prevalence of smog. According to the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index, 98.3 percent of Pakistanis breathe air below the national air quality threshold.
The point to focus here is how we can control the impacts of climate change on human beings. What are the strategies to mitigate these crises? The international world has already started working on this and made different legal frameworks to reduce these crises in the world. It is a global challenge that requires strong policy action, according to its needs. According to the Paris Agreement, all countries must reduce their carbon emissions and limit the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. People are recognizing this as a global issue and putting efforts to cut its effects on human beings. Change always starts from the micro-level, so people also need to take measures to make their environment more sustainable and better for living and breathing. Together, we can make our society sustainable and liveable for everyone.
Youth – As Driving Force
The above-mentioned statistics depict a clear understanding of how climate change has affected the environment and ecosystem of Pakistan over the last few decades. Climate change affects every single one of us, though some may be more prone to its impacts.
So, this part of the blog will be focused on youth– a driving force towards tackling climate change. The youth of a nation is the most productive and efficient group of that respective society. Moreover, the youth emerge as a potent force steering the nation towards a sustainable future. They can be the best sample to be utilized for bringing positive change in a society.
Pakistan is not immune to the impacts of climate change, facing issues such as monster floods, erratic weather patterns, and water scarcity. Apart from that, Pakistan is one of the countries of the global south that has seen some of the most drastic and harrowing effects of climate change. The youth of Pakistan are witnessing firsthand the consequences of environmental degradation, which compels them to take an active role in coping with climate change.
Inclusion of Youth Advocacy in Policymaking
A democratic state enables its citizens to be represented equally in every developmental stage. The same democracy must be able to bring the youth, who comprise 60% of the country’s population, into policymaking, as these policies that have a direct or indirect impact on them. Some of the organs of state have empowered youth to a certain level but it is pertinent to recognize the urgency of addressing climate change and to involve youth representatives in the decision-making process. Consultative forums led by youth contribute to a more inclusive approach to formulating policies that directly impact the environment. UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA hosted the first Pakistan National Youth-led Policy forum to engage youth in policymaking, implementation, and accountability in 2020. Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Usman Dar, who was the Special Assistant to the PM on Youth Affairs at that time, stated, “Pakistan is one of the youngest countries in the world and youth empowerment is a top priority”.
Youth as Key Stakeholders
The contribution of youth in today’s world helps cope with climate change. They can bring unique perspectives and innovative ideas. Their inclusion, basically in policymaking brings a much-needed long-term perspective that is often underrated. Additionally, the youth can act as a watchdog, Conclusion Youth are the most important stakeholders in global efforts toward achieving a sustainable future. Their engagement and solidarity at local and international levels is necessary for making resilient, effective, and adaptive policies. Pakistan must not just empower youth-led initiatives but also support their voices because these voices are not just whispers of today, they are the echoes shaping environmental discourse and action. tomorrow’s and scrutinize governmental activities, thus ensuring that development objectives are aligned with a sustainable environment. The familiarity of youth with technology helps them to leverage digital tools in taking steps that ensure a sustainable and running future.
Youth are the most important stakeholders in global efforts towards achieving a sustainable future. Their engagement and solidarity at local and international levels is necessary for making resilient, effective, and adaptive policies. Pakistan must not just empower youth-led initiatives but also support their voices because these voices are not just whispers of today, they are the echoes shaping environmental discourse and action.
Cover picture source: Dawn News
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The author is a student of the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies at University of the Punjab, Lahore.